Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-08

weight, but opened out to let the rush go
through, throwing themselves on the
ground and hamstringing hundreds OF
horses as they passed.
And so. notwithstanding all that we
could do, the enemy drew nearer, till nj
last he hurled himself upon Goods force
Of seven thousand five hundred regulars,
who were drawn UP to receive them in
three strong squares. About the same
time, too, an awful and heartrending roar
told me that the main battle had closed in
on the center and extreme left. [ raised
myself in my stirrups and looked down to
my left; so far as the eye could see there
was long. dazzling simmer of steel as
The sun glanced upon falling sword and
thruSting spear.
To and fro swung the contending lines
IN that dead struggle, now giving way,
now gaining a little in the mad yet orderly
confusion of attack and defense. But it
was as much as I could do to keep count
Of what was happening to our own wing;
and, as for the moment the cavalry had
fallen back under cover of Goods three
squares, had a fair view Of this
Nasta's wild swordsmen We're now break
ing in red waves against the sUllen, rock
like squares. Time after time did they
yell out their War-cries and hurl them
selves furiously against the long, triple.
ridges OF spear points, only to be rolled
back as pillows are when they meet the
cliff.
And so for four long hours the battle
ragged almost without pause, and at the
end of that time, if we had gained nothing
we had lost nothing. Two attempts to
turn ourleft flank by forcing away through
almost invincible Highlanders, either be-
cause they were diSheartened by their
losses or by way of a ruse, fell back, and
the remains of Goods gallant squares,
leaving the positions they had held for so
many hours, cheered wildly, and rashly
followed them down the slope; whereon
the SWarnls of swordSmen turned to en-
veiOp them, and once more flung them
selves upon them with a yell. Taken thus
on every side, what remained of the first
square was quickly destroyed, and / per-
ceived that the second, in which / could
see Good himself mounted on large horse,
was on the point Of annihilation A few
more minutes and it was broken, its
streaming colors sank, and | lost sight of
Good in the confused and hideOus Slaugh-
ter that ensued.
Presently, however, a cream-colored
horse with a snow-white name and tail
burst from the ruins of the square and
came rushing past me riderless and
with wide streaming reins and in it [ re-
cognized the charger that Good had been
riding. Then [ hesitated no longer, but
taking with me half my effective cavalry
force, which now amounted to between
four and five thousand men, commended
myself to God, and, without waiting for
orders, [ charged straight down upon
Nasta's swordsmen. Seeing me coming.
ard being warned by the thunder Of my
horses loofs, the majority of them faced
round, and gave us a right warm welcome.
Not an inch would they yield; in vain did
we hack and trample them down as we
ploughed broad red furrow through their
thousands; they seemed to re-arise by hun
dreds, driving their terrible sharp swords
into hi,
strings aud then hacking the troopers who
came 10 1le ground With Them Almost into
pieces. My horse was speedily killed I'M
der me, but luckily had a fresh one, my
own favorite, a cOal-black mare Nyleptha
had given me being held in reserve be-
hind, and on this [ afterward mounted.
Meanwhile | had to get along as best |
could, for was pretty well lost sight of
by my men in the mad confusion of the
moment. My voice, of course, could not
be heard in the midst of the changing of
steel and the shrieks of rage and agony
Presently | found myself mixed up with
the remnants of the square, which had
formed round it's leader Good, and was
fighting desperately for existence. Istum-
bled against somebody, and glancing down.
caught sight OF Goods eye-glass. He had
been beaten to his knee. Over him was a
great fellow swinging a heavy sword
Somehow [ managed to run the man
the Nasal, whose hand had cut off; but
as did so, he dealt me a frightful blow in
the left side and breast with the sword
and though my chain shirt saved my life,
felt I was badly hurt. For a minute |
fell onto my hands and knees among the
dead and dying, and turned sick and faint.
When | came to again | saw that Nasta's
spearmen, or rather those of them who re-
NAMED, were retreating back across the
stream, and that Good was there by me
smiling beamingly.
Near go that" he shouted, "but ALPS
well that ends we'll"
| assented, but could not help feeling
that it had not ended well for me. / was
SOrely hurt.
Just then we saw the smaller bodies of
cavalry stationed on our extreme right and
which were now reinforced by the three
THOUSAND aSabres which we had held IL re-
serve, flash out like arrows from their
posts and fall upon the disordered TANKS
of Sorais' forces, and that charge decided
the issue OF the battle. In another minute
or two the enemy was in slow and sullen
retreat across the little stream, where they
once more reformed. Then came another
lull, during which managed to get my
second horse, and received my orders to
advance from Sir Henry, and then with
one fierce, deep-throated roar, with a wav-
ing of banners and wide flashing of steel,
the remains of our army took the offensive
dIU UcSdn 10 SWoep CCWu, SlOWiy 1uUe0O,
but irresistibly, from the positions they had
so CALAMITY held all day
At last it was our turn to attack.
On we moved, over the piled-up masses
of dead and dying, and were approaching
the stream, when suddenly perceived an
extraordinary sight. Galloping wildly to-
ward US, his arms tightly c1asped arouno
his horses neck, against which his blanched
cheek was tightly pressed, was q man ar
rayed in the full costume OF a Zu-Vendi
general, but in whom, as he came nearer,
I recognized none other than our lost AL
phonse. IL was Impossible even then to
mistake those curling black mustachios.
In minute he was tearing through our
ranks and narrowly escaped being cut
down, till at last somebody caught his
horses bride, and he was brought to me
just as a momentary halt occurred in our
advance to allow what remained of our
shattered squares to form into line.
An, monsieur" ne gasped outin voice
that was nearly inarticulate with fright.
grace TO the sky, it is you'll All, what
have enduredl But you win, monsieur,
you win; they fly, the 1aches. But listen,
monsieur forgot, it is no good; the Queen
is to be murdered tomorrow at the first
light in the palace of Milosis; her guards
will leave their posts and the priests are
going to kill her. All, yes! they little
thought it. but | was ensconced beneath a
banner, and | heard it all ~